The Meaning of Jeremiah 36:4 Explained

Jeremiah 36:4

KJV: Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.

YLT: And Jeremiah calleth Baruch son of Neriah, and Baruch writeth from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, that He hath spoken unto him, on a roll of a book.

Darby: And Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Nerijah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.

ASV: Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then Jeremiah  called  Baruch  the son  of Neriah:  and Baruch  wrote  from the mouth  of Jeremiah  all the words  of the LORD,  which he had spoken  unto him, upon a roll  of a book. 

What does Jeremiah 36:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jeremiah then called for Baruch ben Neriah, who copied down these prophecies from the Lord as Jeremiah dictated them to him (cf. Jeremiah 32:12-13).
"Writing was a specialized skill, often restricted to a professional class. Learned men could read, but (like executives today) scorned to write." [1]

Context Summary

Jeremiah 36:1-32 - A Vain Attempt To Destroy God's Word
These written words had been directly given from God, Jeremiah 36:18. The fast was instituted to seek divine help in the approaching conflict with Nebuchadnezzar. But of what good is a fast while the evils of apostasy and disobedience are unredressed? It was against these that Jeremiah protested; and his words were read to a vast concourse of people by Baruch his faithful friend. It was the month of December, and the royal chamber was warmed by a brazier of burning charcoal. As Jehudi read, the godless king cut the roll with a penknife and consigned it to the fire. All down the ages false priests have dealt thus with the Word that condemned them. But a sailor does not escape shipwreck by destroying the chart which indicates the rocks on which he is drifting. God's words are eternal, though the material on which they are written may perish. He who rejects God's truth does so at his peril, while God hides His faithful servants in the secret of His presence, secure from the attacks of enemies. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 36

1  Jeremiah causes Baruch to write his prophesy,
5  and publicly to read it
11  The princes, having intelligence thereof by Michaiah,
14  send Jehudi to fetch the roll and read it
19  They will Baruch to hide himself and Jeremiah
20  The king, Jehoiakim, being certified thereof, hears part of it and burns the roll
27  Jeremiah denounces his judgment
32  Baruch writes a new copy

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 36:4 mean?

And called Jeremiah - Baruch son of Neriah and wrote at the instruction of Jeremiah - all the words of Yahweh which He had spoken to him on a scroll of a book
וַיִּקְרָ֣א יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ אֶת־ בָּר֖וּךְ בֶּן־ נֵֽרִיָּ֑ה וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב מִפִּ֣י יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ אֵ֣ת כָּל־ דִּבְרֵ֧י יְהוָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־ דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלָ֖יו עַל־ מְגִלַּת־ סֵֽפֶר

וַיִּקְרָ֣א  And  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ  Jeremiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִרְמְיָה 
Sense: the major prophet, son of Hilkiah of the priestly family in Anathoth; author of the prophetic book bearing his name.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בָּר֖וּךְ  Baruch 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּרוּךְ  
Sense: friend, amanuensis, and faithful attendant of Jeremiah.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
נֵֽרִיָּ֑ה  of  Neriah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵרִיָּה 
Sense: son of Maaseiah and father of Baruch and Seraiah.
וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב  and  wrote 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
מִפִּ֣י  at  the  instruction 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ  of  Jeremiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִרְמְיָה 
Sense: the major prophet, son of Hilkiah of the priestly family in Anathoth; author of the prophetic book bearing his name.
אֵ֣ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
דִּבְרֵ֧י  the  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יְהוָ֛ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דִּבֶּ֥ר  He  had  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אֵלָ֖יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מְגִלַּת־  a  scroll 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מְגִלָּה  
Sense: roll, book, writing.
סֵֽפֶר  of  a  book 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.